Imaging System for a Motor Vehicle, Having Partial Color Encoding

Abstract

An imaging system for imaging an environment outside of a motor vehicle combines color-coded pixels and non-color-coded pixels in a single imaging sensor of a camera. Pixel groups each include at least one color-coded pixel and at least two non-color-coded pixels. The pixel groups are arranged in a repeating pattern of partial color encoding.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation under 35 USC 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 593,840, which was filed on Sep. 22, 2006 as the US National Stage under 35 USC 371 of PCT International Application PCT / EP2005 / 052080 filed on May 6, 2005. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to another Continuation being filed the same day, entitled “Monitoring Unit for a Motor Vehicle, Having Partial Color Encoding”.PRIORITY CLAIM[0002]Through the abovementioned prior applications, this application claims the priority under 35 USC 119 of German Patent Application 10 2004 025 541.5 filed on May 25, 2004, and German Patent Application 10 2004 026 591.7 filed on Jun. 1, 2004. The entire disclosures of the foreign priority applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to a monitoring unit or imaging system for m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a monitoring unit for a vehicle that uses a single camera to capture images of the outside environment. The camera is designed with color coding (R and / or G and / or B and / or other colors) which is useful for improving the contrast of signs and traffic signs. The camera uses a monochrome image recorder, which allows for reliable evaluation even in poor light conditions. The color coding in the sensor's edge area does not compromise applications where a monochrome image is more advantageous. The use of a single camera reduces costs and space for installation.

Problems solved by technology

Conversely, purely monochrome (B / W) image recording is sufficient for a recognition of objects such as obstacles, other vehicles, bicyclists or other persons, because color information (R, G, B, Y etc.) will as a rule not provide better recognition quality in this context.

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